Bmw R 1200 Rt Review
"The definitive used sport-tourer if you can afford the upkeep."
Key Specs
Used Buyer Review
The R1200RT is genuinely one of the best long-distance bikes ever built, and buying one used makes enormous sense — BMW built these things to last, and a well-maintained example with 60,000 miles on it will still feel tighter than a neglected one at 20k. The water-cooled boxer (2014 onwards) is the sweet spot — more power, better fuel economy, and those heated grips and ESA suspension aren't just gadgets, they're genuinely transformative on a 400-mile day. Previous owners tend to be older, careful riders who serviced them properly, so the used market is actually pretty decent. That said, do your homework. Check the final drive for play, inspect the shaft for leaks, and budget for valve checks — they're not cheap but absolutely necessary. The infotainment system on earlier water-cooled models feels dated now, and the bike's sheer size catches people off guard until they get the weight moving. Get one with panniers already fitted; buying them separately will hurt.
Pros
Cons
You hate dealer servicing or ride tight city streets
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